NOTE: "AUS" (Army of the United States was designation applied by the War Department to civilians given officer status- not commissioned- during "national emergency")

II. BACKGROUND:

Information I know...Brig.Gen. Wilson headed "Mission X" (logistical support for the Philippines and Java). With several staff officers (including Colonel H. W. Allen, USA), they arrived at Melbourne, Australia, 11 March 1942. Ten days later, appointed Chief Quartermaster and Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4 [within the command headed by Maj.Gen. George H. Brett (USAFIA)], Brig.Gen. Wilson took on a tremendous task and performed what "miracles" he could until May 1942. "Mission X" tasks: survey & report on the local port and warehouse facilities; make recommendations as to reserves and levels of supply needed; arrange for a procurement system of both local and overseas logistical support; charter all available ocean craft in Australian waters; expedite unloading/clearance of all troop & cargo vessels; and, most importantly, spare no effort in getting food, ammunition, and other critical supplies forwarded to the Philippines and to Java.

In mid-April 1942, with more U.S. Army staff officers and personnel arriving daily, one of his last "miracles" performed prior to heading back to Washington DC, Brig.Gen. Wilson established a U.S. Army Transportation Section. It's mission: assume all transportation duties previously assigned to the Chief Quartermaster. A majority of the officers assigned to this Section were hurriedly placed into uniform, transported to Fort Mason, California, and placed on any transport ships outbound to Melbourne, Australia. Several officers included Thomas B. Wilson, Thomas G. Plant, Paul W. Johnston, Roy R. Wilson, Thomas F. Ryan, and Vincent Joseph Berrey. These staff officers went from Melbourne and established new offices at Brisbane- Water Branch of the Transportation Service. Under Colonel Thomas G. Plant, the Water Branch concentrated on emergency arrangments for cargo spacing (discharge, intra-theater activities, stevedoring, dock worker labor) on all large ocean-going vessels of any Allied nation in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA).

On 20 July 1942, these officers were involved with the designation change from USAFIA to U.S. Army Services of Supply (USASOS). This new command was first headed by Major General Richard J. Marshall, USA; followed by Major General James L. Frink, USA (September 1943); and, finally by Lieutenant General Wilhelm D. Styer, USA [under the new designation U.S. Army Forces, Western Pacific (AFWESPAC)].

III. REFERENCE SOURCE:

Any information regarding those original staff officers will be greatly appreciated.

I have copy of staff photo taken showing Brig.Gen. Arthur R. Wilson, USA, in lobby of Hotel Australia, City of Melbourne, Victoria State, Australia (taken on Tuesday evening, 2 June 1942). Photo showed the various officers assigned, but no listing of my Grandfather- Captain Berrey.

Photo was found inside the book "YANKS DOWN UNDER 1941 - 1945: THE AMERICAN IMPACT ON AUSTRALIA" (copyrighted 1985; total pp.455), by Mr. E. Daniel Potts & Mrs. Annette Potts, published by the Oxford University Press, 7 Bowen Crescent, Melbourne, Victoria Territory, Australia. Copy of this book is maintained at the Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks, PA (MHI Stack: D754.A8 P66 1985).